---
title: "Importance and objectives of water supply"
subject: "Water Supply Engineering"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_5/water_supply_engineering:importance-objectives-ws"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/importance-objectives-ws
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Importance and objectives of water supply

Water Supply Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2072 Kartik, 4 marks
- Video: [Importance of Water-Environmental Engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXO8XbDq5gk) — shanthi raj
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/importance-objectives-ws
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/chapter-1

## Question

Discuss the importance of water. Enlist the objectives and necessity of water supply schemes.

## Short answer

Water is vital for life, health, agriculture, industry, environment. Objectives: supply safe, sufficient, affordable water at adequate pressure, prevent diseases, support development. Necessity: sources are distant/polluted, reduces water-borne diseases, saves time fetching, needed for urban growth and economic progress.

## Answer

#### Importance of water
- **For life:** about 60 to 70 percent of the human body is water. It carries nutrients, removes wastes, regulates body temperature and supports digestion and blood circulation.
- **For health and hygiene:** drinking, cooking, bathing, washing and sanitation depend on water.
- **For agriculture and livestock:** irrigation and animal needs.
- **For industry and energy:** processing, cooling and hydropower generation.
- **For community safety:** fire fighting, street cleaning and public use.
- **For the environment:** supports ecosystems, rivers and biodiversity.

#### Objectives of water supply schemes
1. Supply safe, wholesome water.
2. Supply enough quantity for all uses.
3. Supply at adequate pressure and at all times.
4. Supply at low cost and with easy access.
5. Provide water for fire fighting and public uses.

#### Necessity of water supply schemes
- Natural sources are often distant, polluted or seasonal.
- Controls water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
- Saves the time and labour of fetching water.
- Needed for the growth of towns, industries, schools and hospitals.
- Raises the standard of living and supports economic development.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Roughly how much of the human body is water, per the answer?
   A. 10 percent
   B. 30 percent
   C. 70 percent
   D. 100 percent
   Answer: C. About 70 percent of the body is water. (Key point: Water in body)

2. Why is a water supply scheme needed even where natural water exists?
   A. Natural sources are always perfect
   B. Natural sources are often distant, polluted or seasonal
   C. Pipes are cheaper than rivers
   D. Rain never falls
   Answer: B. Sources are often distant, polluted or seasonal so organised supply is needed. (Key point: Necessity: sources)

3. Which is listed under industry and energy use?
   A. Hydropower generation and cooling
   B. Ecosystem support
   C. Street cleaning
   D. Digestion
   Answer: A. Industry and energy uses are processing, cooling and hydropower generation. (Key point: Industry use)

## Related in Water Supply Engineering

- [Necessity and impacts of water supply scheme](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Anecessity-impacts-ws) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Objectives of water supply and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aobjectives-ws-rural-diagram) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Objectives of supply; wholesome water requirements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aobjectives-requirements-wholesome) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Typical water supply system and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Atypical-ws-system-components) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Protection and maintenance of water supply](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aws-maintenance-types) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 7, asked 4×
- [Water supply system and historical development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aws-historical-development) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1

## Related in other subjects

- [Short note: Water supply and distribution system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Awater-distribution-short) — Building Technology, chapter 12, asked 2×
- [Gamma: water supply inadequate](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fprobability_and_statistics%3Agamma-water-supply-9-million) — Probability and Statistics, chapter 3
- [Principles of laying out water supply system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Awater-supply-principles) — Building Technology, chapter 12
- [Water supply and sanitation management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Awater-supply-sanitation) — Building Technology, chapter 12